The wavelength of an ultrasound wave is determined by which two variables?

The wavelength of an ultrasound wave is determined by the frequency of the wave and the propagation speed of sound in the medium. The relationship can be expressed with the equation:

Wavelength = Propagation Speed / Frequency.

This means that if you know the frequency of the ultrasound wave and the speed at which it travels through a specific medium (such as soft tissue, water, or air), you can calculate the wavelength.

In clinical practice, understanding this relationship is crucial, as wavelength influences spatial resolution and penetration depth in ultrasound imaging. Higher frequency ultrasound waves have shorter wavelengths, which provides better resolution but reduced penetration depth, while lower frequency waves have longer wavelengths for deeper tissue imaging with less resolution.

The other options do not accurately represent the factors that determine wavelength. Options involving intensity, pressure, depth, pulse duration, period, and amplitude relate to other aspects of ultrasound physics and imaging but do not directly impact how wavelength is calculated.